I have a 788 carbine in 7mm-08 in my safe right now, belongs to my friend. She's put 3 elk in the freezer with it 3 years straight! I've heard that they have some issues, but it sure has a lot more character than an Edge.. If the bore & the mechanicals are good, I'd say the 788.

Although the 7mm-08 is not my flavor I can say that if you can get it for that price buy it immediately before the owner changes his mind.
It's worth much more than the asking price cause they simply did not produce that many of them in that caliber or carbine configuration.

If your saving for a AK hunt. And need a rifle I would not limit my choices to a new budget 7MM/08.
I really like the 7mm-08, but if you have to low ball everything for this hunt look at used guns. You will find many more choices in common 308, 7MM Mag, 30/06, 270.
Factor in the cost of ammo. Common stuff cost much less.
Only you will know the differance when you pull the trigger. The meat will taste the same.

Ham,you have your facts wrong.
The 700 Remington was produced from 1962 to present.
The 788's production started in 1967 thru about 1980-81.
The carbine version was produced in 1980 at the end of the 788's day.
In the carbine version it was offered in .308,243,and not so many 7mm-08 as that cartridge was making it's onstage debut.
I suspect since the barrels on the carbine version is the same length(18.5") as the 600 Mohawk,which ceased production in 1979,I would not be surprised if Remington just used up the remaining 600 barrels by making a carbine version of the 788.
No doubt about it the 788's are renown for their accuracy.

I go along with the vote for the 788. I own a Savage Edge in 7-08 and am not happy with it at all. The reason they quit making the 788 is it proved to be too much competition for the 700. Every 788 I have owned over the years proved to be very accurate. I had to work at making the Edge shoot the way I thought that it should.

The 788 was ahead of its time in how well it fit a market segment price point, and how well it performed. It does have some issues with a safety that is not very positive in detent and can be brush OFF inadvertantly. The bolt handle can also break off if the action is roughly cycled.

I still have a 788 in 308. About the only bad thing I've heard is that the bolt handle is brazed onto the bolt body and will break if you use hot handloads then use a hammer to get the bolt open. Used 788 bolts are scarce!
A few observations:
You can improve the trigger by drilling & tapping the trigger housing for a couple of set screws (sear engagement and overtravel.)
The magazine does tend to dig into your back when you're slinging the rifle.
Some people are turned off by the wobble when working the bolt.
You can still get molded synthetic Ramline NOS stocks too.

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